The Isotope Virtual Research Environment developed within ITINERIS Project: Isotope Studio

Applications of conventional isotopes (e.g., H, O, C, N, and S), as well as non-conventional (e.g., B, Li, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mg) and radiogenic isotopes (e.g., Sr, Nd, and Pb), offer unique opportunities to evaluate deep geological processes, environmental processes and their interactions within the Critical Zone (CZ). Human-induced climate change represents one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the twenty-first century; in the light of this, isotopic composition analysis provides an effective means to investigate it. Numerous studies have highlighted the fundamental role of isotope geochemistry in understanding environmental systems to critical zone processes, and the volume of research in this field continues to grow. Considering this, a comprehensive inventory of stable and radiogenic isotopes has become essential for tracking processes involving fluids, minerals, rock evolution, and origin, as well as examining interactions in soils, plants, and other reservoirs. Currently, data and information are unevenly distributed across various sources and institutions, leading to challenges in data recovery and integration. To address this gap, the ITINERIS Project (PNRR) has initiated Work Package 8.9, which focuses on developing the ISOTOPE Virtual Research Environment (VRE). A VRE can be described as an online environment offering remote and shareable disk space (workspace), catalogues and several customized tools for data processing. This initiative represents a pioneering step toward establishing Italy's first comprehensive national VRE service, encompassing a national database on stable isotopes. The Isotope VRE integrates tools for data analysis, interpretation, and modelling, enabling researchers and stakeholders to access coordinated information and advanced analytical tools. Some examples of data modelling are here reported: i) data plotting; ii) ternary diagrams; iii) mixing models. Initial results demonstrate the significant potential of the Isotope VRE in advancing our understanding of Earth system processes. Additional mathematical modelling approaches are under development, further enhancing the platform's capabilities. The Isotope VRE aims to provide the scientific community with a comprehensive virtual research environment for isotopic data sharing, analysis, and interpretation. This platform will empower researchers to investigate environmental processes with a suite of powerful tools, fostering new insights and applications in geochemistry and beyond.